What caused/causes the deadzone? Answers inside!
Added 2021-07-09 23:17:07 +0000 UTCHey!
One of the things I'll unfortunately never be able to say in-story - What caused/causes the deadzone?
Due to what it is, and the nature of it, I have *no way* of getting the information to Elaine in-story. Since I can't get it to Elaine, I can't get it to you, the readers.
Well, the deadzone has been posted to Royal Road now, and they've gotten some time to speculate. Not nearly as much as everyone else has, but hey. That's why you're my patrons - you get advanced goodies that RR doesn't get.
And you've all gotten plenty of time to speculate.
Didn't speculate? Stop reading!
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Alright, you were warned!
The deadzone is caused by the massive plant that's living in the Nostrum sea. The very same plant that prevents cross-sea travel, making the people of Remus stick to the shores. The same plant that Night doesn't think is a problem, because it prevents anything else from growing inside the sea.
And he's right about that! No giant sea monsters in the Nostrum because the plant's eating them all.
Now, I hate it when things seem to be introduced out of the blue, or are this convenient in stories. So I was hinting at it for a long, LONG time.
Back in October.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/43364547
It's not really an oddity if it's only eating things now is it?
It came around when I asked myself; "What stops someone else from coming in and evicting humans from their nice, cosy spot in the world?" Because Remus's location is almost like a paradise in many ways. Good climate, easy transportation, good food, a variety of locations and places to be - it's ideal in many ways. Why didn't someone else move in and evict the humans?
Dead zone.
I also hate the "MC starts in the weakest spot" trope, so I balanced it. Since it's experience being eaten, and not like mana density or something like that, it takes longer for people to level up. Well, the System still sees all the stuff they do, and if a carpenter needs to carve twice as many chairs to level up, his (improved) classes will reflect that!
A trade off that most anyone wouldn't make - after all, you can always live outside the deadzone and carve twice as many chairs - but it's an effort not many people will make. So an advantage.
Ask me anything else about the dead zone!
Comments
Will toxics poison ever effect it?
Damian
2021-07-15 00:11:41 +0000 UTCI totally thought it had to do with the dragon flight "Night" witnessed. Like the earth was damaged and now the dwarf lands would b too. I was Def relying too much on the title
matthew gilley
2021-07-14 16:28:16 +0000 UTCWho says the shape it a circle? It could be the shape of the sea, plus a hundred kilometres inland for example. Than they would think the sea might be “ODD” and they would have a calculated point in which to search for… they cant check the whole sea floor.
evyatar
2021-07-12 19:41:37 +0000 UTCMaybe the oddities are connected, the plant is fuelling the dungeon? How does it spawn otherwise? With the exp the plant provides? Just a thought. The dungeon idea is one idea i love… the question is if people are aware of the oddity? About the dungeon? Loot? Monsters? Bosses? Because its a created mineshaft right? Did the stone mineshaft the dwarves created is connected to the dungeon? Or did the shadow dwarf and the gravity guardian made the mineshaft so much lower and they are the pioneers of the dungeon? Is NIGHT aware of the dungeon? Because he isn’t aware of the oddity of the sea plant. It could be cool for Elaine to delve deep deep!
evyatar
2021-07-12 19:38:56 +0000 UTCAnd kill off the fishing industry for the entire coast?
Obran
2021-07-11 15:57:39 +0000 UTCWe already have one https://www.patreon.com/posts/current-world-of-42123267 Zone 1 is remus Zone 2 is dwarves formorians in between
Raivshard
2021-07-11 07:10:00 +0000 UTCSo you’re saying eventually toxic will poison a huge sea monster, that then gets eaten by this plant and toxic gets a ton of levels
Jumping Flounder
2021-07-10 17:48:43 +0000 UTCThis. Once mapped, seems people would look to the center.
K Hilliard
2021-07-10 15:48:36 +0000 UTCRe-upped just to comment! I guessed it was the plant when there was a mention of it being 'round' at some point plus the sea is in the middle of the area. But I always thought that once humans knew they were in a dead zone they'd map it out its edges and realise its epicentre was the middle of the ocean and therefore the massive monster that kills anything that comes nearby -> Elaine finds out that way?
Reodude
2021-07-10 14:26:02 +0000 UTCYeah, in October. Bonus Material Table of Contents.
Selkie
2021-07-10 13:03:22 +0000 UTCAh, but there WERE other Guardians there! They were using long-range attacks. Not a lot of people picked up on the "While Etalix was fighting, rifts opened up in the sky and..." (I can't remember my full wording - but there are hints about it!)
Selkie
2021-07-10 13:03:03 +0000 UTCPeople DO try to get their own immortals all the time! Usually in secret. "Rules for thee but not for me" and all that.
Selkie
2021-07-10 13:01:21 +0000 UTCBut it's not leveling. It's just eating the exp for food.
Selkie
2021-07-10 12:58:56 +0000 UTCIt's an oddity. It doesn't have a System or anything, but it's significantly stronger than most things with a System. It's like the river that's also a snake, the living storm, or the genie. They're just strange and unusual things to flavor the world.
Selkie
2021-07-10 12:58:19 +0000 UTCWe heard about etalix battling a different dragon at one point, and night only talked about etalix, and he would have known if another guardian was there due to the system notifications
Noodles
2021-07-10 10:46:06 +0000 UTCDragon. The only Dragon we've seen so far solo'd like 5 guardians at once, summoned a meteor storm as an opener, cast an illusion over the entire world and I think sliced a rift in space-time in half.
Anonymousthe22nd
2021-07-10 09:05:53 +0000 UTCI will also point out the contradiction about a society that somehow actively and passively prevents healers from advancing to lv 256 (that they should be able to do with just a thought and time) but then starts full wars over any that do. either the threat of war is great enough to make the countries involved actively hunt down and kill any healer that breaks the taboo or those in power would actively nurture good healers in secret so they could become immortal once they reach 256.
Michael Otton
2021-07-10 07:54:15 +0000 UTCFirst thing I thought when there was a mention of plant monster under the sea was Cthulhu. Seem to not be that of the mark with the 'other' comments you have made in this 'thread'.
Torbjørn Nilsen
2021-07-10 07:51:50 +0000 UTCBrutal honesty here.
Torbjørn Nilsen
2021-07-10 07:49:17 +0000 UTCher class is more powerful but I have to wonder about how much of an effect that has in Iona time a lv 256 healer is supposedly immortal and can grant others immortality at that lv and yes Elaine is going to get the ability soon but shes lv 355 and doesn't have it yet. the only thing I can think to explain this is either the science of magical healing has advanced alot or Elaine somehow earned had much less affinity for the skill then most healers would.
Michael Otton
2021-07-10 07:47:34 +0000 UTCAnd here i thought the guardian of the ocean who's appearance was so rudely interrupted was '<i>the Plant</i>'. Guess i was wrong. Was there an introduction of 'oddities' that i missed?
D
2021-07-10 07:12:27 +0000 UTCI quote: " Depends on which guardian. It’ll wreck the Phoenix for example. Something about being under an entire sea"
Vadim J.
2021-07-10 06:39:09 +0000 UTCCould the plant survive being attacked by a Dragon? Like, how far up the ladder is it?
Anonymousthe22nd
2021-07-10 06:29:23 +0000 UTCElaine is totally inside the Dungeon right now. Maybe the Dungeon will be her companion. Although it feels weird for 2 oddities to be near eachother. But they are oddities, so having any order to them would also be weird
Noodles
2021-07-10 05:46:05 +0000 UTCMakes sense to me
Re Evolution
2021-07-10 05:25:40 +0000 UTCYou say this will never appear in the story.... OR the giant water plant is actually a giant underwater experience mango tree and Elaine will find it and make it her companion. haha
Weebeedee
2021-07-10 04:48:21 +0000 UTCHmm yes, my bad.
Vadim J.
2021-07-10 04:44:04 +0000 UTCHerculix did the plus one not etalix
Selkie
2021-07-10 04:30:27 +0000 UTCFor the experience thing - it’s an oddity. One of a kind. Unique. Does weird shit that’s not explained by anything else. It eats experience in the same way genie makes Aladdin a prince. It is a strange and unusual aspect to the world that’s there to make you wonder. And also possibly to make you look up the oddities in the bonus content
Selkie
2021-07-10 04:29:45 +0000 UTCThe plant is not participating in The System, sucking up The Experience and nobody has the means to track down this possibility. Is it even possible to [Identify] it? I don't recall the story behind Etalix feat on humanitys +1 free point each level up anymore but is it possible the Plant and It met, drank some tea and discussed about the poor humans situation and location?
Vadim J.
2021-07-10 03:52:53 +0000 UTCHehe, nice like that Dragon helping the dwarves clear out the old clutter for some proper urban renewal.
Melting Sky
2021-07-10 03:38:35 +0000 UTCThe aquatic plant monster spans that entire sea which is the size of a small country. The dimensions of the body of water it's in seems to be what's limiting it from spreading further. It's more a natural disaster than an enemy that could be fought and defeated. I mean the thing would probably survive being nuked with a high yield H bomb. I don't see much short of a God, Dragon, or Guardian being able to pose a real threat to it. You would have to practically boil off the sea to even get at the thing.
Melting Sky
2021-07-10 03:27:35 +0000 UTCThat is such a nice plant helping the defenseless humans get better classes.
Noodles
2021-07-10 02:34:34 +0000 UTCSo they have stronger classes on average, but level much slower? That's pretty fair. It explains how Elaine got constellation of the Healer at such a low level, while Iona was much higher for Warrior. And Elaine's class customisation at such an early stage as well, when it seems like it really isn't that remarkable a level.
Signspace
2021-07-10 02:24:51 +0000 UTCHe existed post plant
Mountainking
2021-07-10 02:23:19 +0000 UTCShouldn't Night be aware of the dead zone even if he doesn't know what causes it, since he existed before plant? Doesnt know what causes it, possibly divine fuckery like the extra sun that killed his friend, so he may not mention it to ppl and get them frustrated with the knowledge
Sean Kenny
2021-07-10 02:10:26 +0000 UTCIs it possible that the plant died between the actual time (actual Elaine) and the future (Iona)? That might explain the level 2000+ person who rescued the Valkyries at the end of the battle with the goblins (as long as it is still in Remus). One additional question: Shouldn't the area of the death zone grow with time if it is linked to a creature which is continuously leveling? The leveling speed might not be very fast but the fortifications of the dwarves against the Formorions sits exactly at the border to the death zone for thousands of years. Do they have some kind of magic device to keep the death zone contained? The sentinel expedition that discovers the destroyed place after the dragon accident does not mention anything about a different zone as far as I can remember. A destroyed device can be an explanation for this.
Bauglir
2021-07-10 02:05:56 +0000 UTCI'm curious as to how any creature/being can consume(?) Experience. The only reason that would make sense to would be for said entity to be consuming the creatures and removing them from the general XP pool, which it can be considered doing? But that is only the XP and creatures from the sea and those crossing it. Unless 'experience' as we know it is far more physical than what I think it is. Possibly like a mana/essence type thing that permeates everything and is something that a creature can consume? But then again, according to Nights testament, both the sea creatures and the beings in the sky were created at roughly the same time, after those on the earth. Why would the human nation be the only one in the deadzone, when Lun'Kat (AKA Big Fuck-Off Dragon) was created in roughly the same timeframe, and now lives in the dwarven realm, or at least has one lair there (maybe after being driven away by Etalix? Heavy assumption that BFOD is the one that ravaged the human area). And then wouldnt Night notice that his experience gain would significantly decrease when Plant Bro began his Experience draining shenanigans since he was alive during that time, and the time before Plant Bro was even created?
Re Evolution
2021-07-10 02:02:34 +0000 UTCI have a LOT of plot planned out. It's just not in the cards. They have no reason to try and poke the plant, and it'd just be too forced.
Selkie
2021-07-10 01:49:59 +0000 UTCIt's an oddity. How did any of them come around? Well - *ERROR*
Selkie
2021-07-10 01:49:18 +0000 UTCPre-Night.
Selkie
2021-07-10 01:48:59 +0000 UTCYes, but nature abhors a vacuum. Something would move in behind them. It'd just be wildernes, with lots of creatures running around that are also getting exp.
Selkie
2021-07-10 01:48:41 +0000 UTCJust eating it. Exp is tasty you know!
Selkie
2021-07-10 01:47:54 +0000 UTCEating it
Selkie
2021-07-10 01:47:37 +0000 UTCIt doesn't feed experience to stuff, but it makes the occasional fish friend. Said fish friend has a life of ease and luxury until it dies of old age.
Selkie
2021-07-10 01:47:31 +0000 UTCsomething, something, bonus material table of contents. There's good stuff in there. Short answer: Yes, Genie and this plant are both members of the Oddities.
Selkie
2021-07-10 01:46:46 +0000 UTCWith the way I wrote the plant though, the only thing that happens is a dead Elaine.
Selkie
2021-07-10 01:45:46 +0000 UTCBut see, this isn't a skill. This isn't from the System. It's just... odd. Different. Strange.
Selkie
2021-07-10 01:44:54 +0000 UTCA question I have is obvious enough that I don't have the whole of the story set in my mind, but how could this not be introduced? Maybe later elaine and company could kill it, or something right. I'm just curious as to why you consider this to be something that couldn't be added into the story.
Courier
2021-07-10 01:28:34 +0000 UTCYou also have to keep in mind that the humans weren't even aware of the fact that their exp was getting halved. There's no indication in their system messages that they're getting anything less than full exp, so as far as they were aware there was no problem. Plus with the pending coup by the army, and the destruction of the dwarves there's every chance that knowledge of the deadzone won't become common knowledge among the humans.
Cryptic_Reality
2021-07-10 01:18:35 +0000 UTCMy first thought when Elaine learned about the deadzone was about that plant being the likely suspect. The fact that it's experience that's being eaten implied that some kind of creature was the cause. So far in that world the only things that have anything to do with exp are creatures/people that are linked to the system. Also, here's a terrifying thought. If the Formorian Queens were only a little over lvl 1000 after centuries of half exp gain, then what lvl is that plant after potentially thousands of years of devouring half the exp for every single creature/person with system access in the deadzone nonstop? *shudders*
Cryptic_Reality
2021-07-10 01:07:42 +0000 UTCAre there genies in BtDEM?
Angus Hamilton
2021-07-10 00:58:55 +0000 UTCIt would probably either feel shoehorned in or take the plot way off course
Angus Hamilton
2021-07-10 00:57:53 +0000 UTCSomeone tries to kill her by tying a rock to her feet and throwing her into the sea. She sinks, ends up at the bottom, almost gets eaten, either kills something crazy only to not level and make the connection or have the increased proximity steal even more XP so she loses a level. Honestly, revealing this in-story wouldn't be that hard.
buca117
2021-07-10 00:31:14 +0000 UTCWhere did the plant come from? Did it evolve or did a god plop it down? I would guess the latter, since a plant nomming so much would grow and overtake more area unless it was sending that energy somewhere
Oliver Wolfe
2021-07-10 00:18:28 +0000 UTCIn the timeline of the world, how long has the dead zone been "dead"?
Ink's Muse
2021-07-10 00:14:51 +0000 UTCShort of an arc where she has to cross over and the closer you get the less experience u get and a notification eventually says "x creature has stolen ur exp"
Schmidt
2021-07-10 00:10:30 +0000 UTCWith no predators i thought plants generally grow indiscriminately? So in theory until it hits something that can threaten it, it would continue to grow.
Schmidt
2021-07-10 00:08:39 +0000 UTCIf all the Humans suddenly mass-migrated out of the dead zone, would the plant lose a large chunk of the experience it's eating? Would the plant try to move out of the sea, or at least closer to land to find more free experience to eat?
FancyPantsu
2021-07-09 23:54:48 +0000 UTCSince the system rewards overcoming adversity it makes sense it would reward people with better classes for achieving more feats including managing to class up while being experience drained by a vampire seaweed monster. In the extreme long run, it might even be better to sacrifice early exp gain and advancement for better quality classes assuming you survive long enough to get out of the dead zone and then level up a ton with the better quality classes afterward. Higher quality classes come with MASSIVE stat advantages and better skills. That's a lot of ifs, but Dawn has immortality in the cards and she has gotten out of the dead zone so she is in the sort of situation that it could work out for her someday.
Melting Sky
2021-07-09 23:54:07 +0000 UTCis the plant eating the experience or is it that everyone is getting an "assistance/contribution" penalty as the plant is effectively "present" for every fight/skill action that the people are taking
Maltec
2021-07-09 23:53:52 +0000 UTCno
Selkie
2021-07-09 23:48:38 +0000 UTCRight now, most research is towards "How do we not die to all these monsters?"
Selkie
2021-07-09 23:47:47 +0000 UTCCan we get a local map with Remus, the (former) dwarves and former Formorian lands?
luda305
2021-07-09 23:46:56 +0000 UTCIs the plant doing anything with the experience?
Addicted_Reader
2021-07-09 23:45:33 +0000 UTCFind the center and see what's there? OK, maybe it won't be that simple - but people are very good at figuring out things that seem impossible to figure out (like most advanced science)...
Todor
2021-07-09 23:39:29 +0000 UTCDoes the Plant have a Nemo? Like a fish friend it feeds experience too that keeps away annoying animals
Adrian Gorgey
2021-07-09 23:37:59 +0000 UTCIs the plant a Guardian
Adrian Gorgey
2021-07-09 23:37:13 +0000 UTCIf it is a skill it could gain in levels? Though i guess levels may only come with increase in effect not size.
Angus Hamilton
2021-07-09 23:36:01 +0000 UTCIt eats exp from everything. Non dead zone rejects wander in at times - like the monster Elaine needed to fight chapter 47ish
Selkie
2021-07-09 23:35:48 +0000 UTCIt’s an oddity. They don’t make sense. Like how does a genie grant wishes?
Selkie
2021-07-09 23:35:13 +0000 UTCBecause how do you find out it’s the plant doing it?
Selkie
2021-07-09 23:34:23 +0000 UTCWhy would it
Selkie
2021-07-09 23:33:25 +0000 UTCDepends on which guardian. It’ll wreck the Phoenix for example. Something about being under an entire sea
Selkie
2021-07-09 23:33:10 +0000 UTCElaine can go back and still have no idea what causes it
Selkie
2021-07-09 23:32:32 +0000 UTCyeah
Mimic
2021-07-09 23:29:57 +0000 UTCWould any nature abilties affect the plant? Does Toxic have the potential to kill it?
J
2021-07-09 23:27:24 +0000 UTCWait does the plant only eat exp from non-monsters? If not why are the monsters so high level comparatively? Also what level is that plant?
Timurelang
2021-07-09 23:26:54 +0000 UTCProbably because no one in world actually knows
Angus Hamilton
2021-07-09 23:26:42 +0000 UTCis that ALL you people EVER think about
Eliezer
2021-07-09 23:26:18 +0000 UTCHow does the plant eat the experience? Is it a skill or something?
Shining Moon
2021-07-09 23:25:56 +0000 UTCThank you for taking the extra time to make sure that your world makes economic sense! I appreciate it!
Eliezer
2021-07-09 23:25:50 +0000 UTCHeck, the dead zone could almost be used as a training too. "Don't come back until level 120." 100 dead zone levels required before application.
S. Nutter
2021-07-09 23:25:50 +0000 UTCNow the question becomes: Why would there be no way to get that information to Elaine in-story? Maybe they'll never find out while she's alive (ever?)? Maybe she'll never get back to Ramus? Maybe...
Todor
2021-07-09 23:25:41 +0000 UTCWould make an interesting arc in the future
J
2021-07-09 23:24:46 +0000 UTCIs the big plant dead by the time Iona shows up?
ActionKermit
2021-07-09 23:24:10 +0000 UTCI guess the deadzone is actually a result of the dragon moon-eyes then? Neat. I like how the Formorians contributed to the deadzone, though it's a shame we never got much info on the selkie tribe that caused it or their relationship with etalix.
Robert Mullins
2021-07-09 23:23:49 +0000 UTCplant moster waifu in the future?
Mimic
2021-07-09 23:22:38 +0000 UTCInteresting world building, why wouldn't the zone grow though?
Angus Hamilton
2021-07-09 23:22:10 +0000 UTCDamn creative, now i wonder about the plant intelligence, and abilities. Will we meet it someday? How strong is it compared to guardians? Probably a long wait until we learn if we ever will
evyatar
2021-07-09 23:21:19 +0000 UTCYes totally called it. Good lore building
Dion Crump
2021-07-09 23:19:48 +0000 UTCSo we won't be going back to the dead zone?
Avery Aderyn
2021-07-09 23:19:26 +0000 UTCTolkien appendix 1
luda305
2021-07-09 23:19:07 +0000 UTC
